Views

Navigation

18 April 2012

Dear Friends:

You are receiving this message because you have indicated your support
for the New York State Principals' Open Letter Regarding the NYS APPR
Legislation (http://www.newyorkprincipals.org/).
We thank you for your support and would like to provide you with an update on
our recent activities

The
Numbers

As of today, over 1,432
principals in New York State signed our letter. This amounts to over 31% of the
principals in New York State. Additionally, over 4,860 friends have voiced
their support for our positions. Thank you to all who have taken this stand.

We
Need Your Opinions!

This year, New York State has substantially increased the amount of
time devoted to standardized testing in grades 3 through 8. For example,
third graders last year spent a total of 150 minutes over three days on
standardized tests in ELA and 100 minutes over two days in math, for a total of
250 minutes or four hours and ten minutes of testing spread over a three week
period. This year, third graders will spend 90 minutes a day for three
consecutive days in each subject - for a total of nine hours of testing
in less than two weeks – more than DOUBLE the testing time in a shortened
window.

We are seeking to gather information on the effects that this increase has had
or is having upon the students and schools. To that end, we are asking you to
take a few minutes of your time to answer some simple questions about what you
have observed regarding your students or children.

We have designed two separate surveys to gather information. One survey is for teachers
of students in grades 3 through 8 in any public school in New York State. (If you have students
in multiple grades, and feel that the experience varies from grade to grade,
feel free to fill it out once for each grade that you teach.) Another survey is
for parents of students in grades 3
through 8. If you fit into both of these categories, please complete each
survey. Note that a separate survey has been sent to randomly selected
principals throughout New York State.

We ask the
following:

1.Complete
the survey(s) based
upon your experience this year,
Respond no later than Tuesday, May 1, 2012. We will produce a press release
with our findings.

2.Forward
the survey(s) to
any teacher or parent who is involved in the ELA or Math tests in grades 3
through 8. Contact your local parent organizations and enlist their support.